The pleasantries exchanged between Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, and the US president-elect, Donald Trump, as reported in a readout of the telephonic conversation by the Pakistan’s Press Information Bureau, have triggered much bemusement both in mainstream and social media. Standing in a stark contrast with his prolonged vitriolic, and at times, irrational, tirade against both Muslims–who hold an overwhelming majority of 97 percent in Pakistan–as well as the country itself during his presidential campaign, an ebullient Trump managed to raise many eyebrows regarding his unfamiliarity with the basics of diplomacy yet again. The casual manner in which he had previously extended a presidential invitation to the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, during a similar telephone chat, was heavily criticised for contradicting all diplomatic protocol.
Nevertheless, Trump is not alone in being criticised for his naive comments and ‘flowery language, which could be easily taken as an early sign of his administration’s stance on his country’s future alliance with Pakistan. Islamabad’s handling of the telephone conversation also met with a severe backlash, particularly at the hands of American media who have gone to the extent of accusing Sharif’s office of violating diplomatic protocol. What should have been reported as a mere summary of the phone call between the two leaders did not go unnoticed largely because of the effusive praise that the statement detailed. No matter how unexpectedly overwhelming Trump’s praise and potential support for Pakistan as well as its prime minister might have been for the premier’s office, they should still have maintained a formal tone while releasing the readout sans any suggestive descriptors. Pakistan’s rather ill-thought response to an otherwise good political icebreaker might have helped the administration appease local audiences with an exaggerated swagger of its powerful foreign alliance. However, it has only served to gain negative media attention and strong disapprovals from political insiders. In lieu of overplaying the president-elect’s offer to play “a role” in resolving Pakistan’s disputes with India, which was reprimanded as “highly inappropriate” by a former White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer, our administration would have benefitted more by complying with the norms of official statements.
